Featured Fleets: C22, Sc-21
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AUSTIN YACHT CLUB TELLTALE May 2020 Riding Out the Storm of Covid-19 Message from the Commodore As we enter another month of FEATURED FLEETS: C22, SC-21 lockdown, the Board and Staff of the Club are keeping a close eye on the situation and the recommendations coming from the State, County and City levels. We have asked Vice Commodore Diane Covert to convene an advisory board of Club members with appropriate professional expertise to guide and advise us as we navigate reopening. Please see her article with the details in this Telltale! April and early May have teased us with some beautiful weather, making this even harder. I have been out to the Club myself to do some boat work, including restoring my neglected Catalina 22. There have been many members out enjoying their boats while exercising the appropriate social Opening Day 2020, C22s and SC-21s Photo by Cheryl Pervier distancing and use of face coverings. I am glad members are coming out to get on the water and to check in with their friends. Several of the fleets IN THIS ISSUE have put together informal activities to promote Congratulations Class of 2020 Carlota’s Chronicles by Carlota Dwyer safe group sailing. Please continue to use caution Commodore’s Report Featured Fleets C22 & SC-21 when in the proximity of other members, we don’t Board of Director Reports Covid-19 & Single-Handed Sailing by James Bland want anyone to get sick from visiting the Club. Youth Sailing Director Report I’m Sure Dad Was Rolling His Eyes by Annie Lancaster To this end, the Board has agreed that the From the AYC GM C420s Quarantine Sailing by Constanze Heitkoetter clubhouse, the ice machine and the bathrooms will Starting Tips 2 by Scott Young Weekend Sailing Adventures by Jim Casto remain closed through the end of May, and all AYC 7 Golden Rules by Harry Polly In Memory of Bob Goldsmith sponsored events have been canceled through that Rule 14 by Brad Davis Socially Distant Sailing Photos by Elizabeth Quintanilla time. These are all high-touch places. We simply Sailing & Nautical Films by Mark Zion can’t get the PPE to protect the staff or enough cleaning to ensure adequate sanitation of these areas. We understand that not everyone agrees with these decisions, but we are doing our best to ensure the safety of all who come out to enjoy the lake. As much as possible, please pack in and pack out what you need and bring. Trash cans are also places that multiple people touch. continued page 3 The Roadrunner Fleet and Austin Yacht Club Wishes to Honor our Four Graduating Seniors ELI C. ORTIZ When Eli was four years old, we traveled to Corpus Christi. All day he bugged me to go to the Bayfront to see the boats, so I finally gave in. He was fascinated by the sailboats, turned to me and said, “Mom, I am going to sail one of those one day.” I laughed and nodded, but I had serious doubts. No one in our family had ever sailed, or even been on a sailboat. But I had always told him to dream big so I let him believe. Little did I know he would not only fulfill that dream, but it would become a passion that would shape his entire future. Eli was 10 when he took part in his first sail; he was a little late to the sport but he took to it quickly and he fell in love. Since then, he has sailed in countless regattas and on a variety of boats. He went from heavy winds as part of the Corpus Christi Sailing Team to shifty winds of Lake Travis, and was adopted by the Austin Roadrunners. He earned his Sailing 1 Instructor certification and helped teach sailing to countless kids. He made friends that have stayed with him since the beginning and, I am sure, will continue to stay with him long into his future. Now, Eli is taking his sailing experience to the next level. At the end of this month, he will graduate from Vista Ridge High School where he earned the Ranger Star Award and the Navy JROTC Fleet Reserve Association Spirit of Americanism Award. In August, Eli will report to the Recruit Training Command Great Lakes Center in Illinois as a Navy recruit to become a Fire Controller. This position will require that he be at sea for six months at a time and entails calibrating and Eli C. Ortiz maintaining his ship’s fire systems. Once he graduates from Basic Training, he will be a E3 Seaman. 209 Wagontrain Circle Copperas Cove, Texas 76522 To say that our family is proud of him would be a vast understatement and we are excited to see to how far he goes. As he begins this new journey, he will be missed; however, he has reminded me on countless occasions that AYC will always be his home away from home and he plans to return to sail and to teach future sailors whenever he can. Eli and our family would like to thank everyone at AYC and on the Roadrunner team for accepting, guiding, and loving him throughout his sailing career. It has helped shape and build him into a fantastic young man. Many thanks! ETHAN FROELICH Ethan will graduate from Sterling Classical School, summa cum laude, with 34 college credits achieved. Sterling has kept Ethan centered and grounded through its Christ-centered approach to all that encompasses life. The school and Austin Yacht Club have always supported his desire to compete at sailing’s highest level around the world, and this has allowed him to discover that true independence is earned by solving his own challenges of balancing academics and his passion for sailing. Ethan is both analytical and adventurous, patient and energetic, and has been taught how to manage his academics and to work for his regatta entry fees so he can spend an absurd amount of time on the water. Although recent events have cancelled all the 2020 sailing regattas, he departs from his high school sailing career as the USA National Champion in the I420 and sixth in the world. Ethan will attend the University of Texas with a Major in Geosystems Engineering and Hydrogeology. Ethan Froelich 12326 Hanging Valley Drive “You haven’t won the race, if in winning the race Austin, Texas 78726 you have lost the respect of your competitors.” Paul Esvstrom continued back cover Congratulations Class of 2020 2 It may be a while until we are back to “normal”, so we are looking at A big thank you goes to the AYC staff for their work keeping the business innovative ways to continue to engage the membership. Our Sailing going the grounds clean and safe for all. Director Bobby Brooks has been developing more virtual seminars and We all love this weather lately and are itching to get back out on the water. classes. The J/80 fleet has been holding socially distanced practice Please bear with us as we work through the process listed above. As you with the help of other members setting an informal starting line. Our access your boats, please be mindful of others around you, and follow the Race Commander John Parker has been working with the fleets to guidelines put in place. We are all a big sailing family and wouldn’t want to determine new ways to engage in racing activities without putting harm anyone in our family needlessly. members at risk. Important work continues at the Club. We have a beautiful brand new Building & Grounds Report by John Maddalozzo South Cove rigging dock thanks to the work of several members, lead by Harbor Commander Russ Shermer. Improvements have been made • A leaking hose fixture has been repaired on the to the Dry Out area. The AYC Website is being revamped under the side of the clubhouse. leadership of John Griznich working with various Board members. • Replaced hand chain on hoist. Lubricated lift And of course we continue to plan for Summer Camp and PB&J series chain per inspection recommendation. thanks to Sail Training Commander Anne Morley, Youth Sailing Director Spencer LeGrande and of course Bobby. Groundskeeper Tom • Extended lawn mowing, edging, cleanup in field and point areas. Cunningham has been busy keeping the property looking great during this time. And General Manager Jackie Wheeless has been herding • Some extra attention to the grass in front of the cats while dealing with Club business matters from her home. clubhouse. I thought the membership might be interested in other activities Tom I would like to express my gratitude to the Board of Directors. They are Cunningham has been keeping up with. A lot goes into keeping our Club working like a well-oiled machine. We continue to meet virtually and running and looking nice! Here are some excerpts from his work log. A week regularly to look at the current state of the situation and try to guide the in the life so to speak. Club through these times with an eye towards safety. We look forward to Every day: reopening as soon as we feel we can ensure the safety of our members Sanitize and our staff. I hope to see you out there as soon as is possible. Walk docks Vice Commodore Report Lock up by Diane Covert Tues. Apr. 21 Answer email The Board has been meeting virtually to formulate an Organize shelter 4 action plan to move the Club forward. We are getting Talk with fire rescue about gate switch ideas from various sources and networking with Wash shelter 5 other clubs through US Sailing and the Association of Wash concrete on lake side of shelters 4&5 Marina Industries.